Follower appliance for fabric folding machines

ABSTRACT

In a fabric folding machine, a service traveler is connected with the movable part of the machine which travels back and forth to perform the folding operation. The movable part is driven by a motor which, in addition to conventional controls that are possibly provided, is also controlled by switches actuated when an operator is standing on the service traveler and/or when the service traveler encounters objects or persons which would otherwise be run down.

Q Unlted States Patent [151 3,674,253

Stumpf 1 1 July 4, 1972 54 FOLLOWER APPLIANCE FOR FABRIC 3,360,914 1/1968 Black, Jr. et al. ..15/312 R FOLDING MACHINES 207,575 8/1878 Warth ..270/31 3,432,877 3/1969 Black, Jr. et a1. ...15/3l2 R 1 lnvenmr: Gunter Slumpf, KRIS Muensmsem 7421 2,590,773 3/1952 Katz ..270/31 Mehrstetten, Germany [22] Filed Dec 31 1969 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS pp 889 621 1,149,186 7/1957 France ..57/1

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell 30 Foreign A fi tion p i Data Att0rneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & N'issen Nov. 7, 1969 Germany ..P 19 56 148.9 57 ABSTRACT s2 us. (:1 .270/31 a fabric folding machine, a Service traveler is Connected 51 1 1111.111 ..B65h 29/46 the movable P machine which travels back and [53 new, Search 5/312, 57/1 56 forth to perform the folding operation. The movable part is driven by a motor which, in addition to conventional controls [56] References Cited that are possibly provided, is also controlled by switches actuated when an operator is standing on the service traveler UNlTED STA TS and/or when the service traveler encounters objects or persons which would otherwise be run down. 3,411,281 11/1968 GllldO et a1. ..57/56 X 185,371 12/1876 Warth ..270/31 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FOLLOWER APPLIANCE FOR FABRIC FOLDING MACHINES FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a fabric folding machine follower appliance.

BACKGROUND A follower appliance coupled to a fabric folding machine is intended to reduce the operators expenditure of energy during the folding process, by making it unnecessary for him to walk around in the neighborhood of the machine which is constantly reciprocating. The operator can therefore concentrate much more intensively on the essential folding process and on looking for faults and so forth.

One simplification in working fabric folding machines occasioned by advancing technology has resulted in the provision whereby a machine can be partly set in motion by a single handle. This motion can be so small in speed-controlled directcurrent drives that, unless consciously watched for, it is scarcely perceptible. An apparatus is therefore required which will prevent unchecked starting of the machine, yet will not demand any additional controls by the authorized user. As the majority of fabric folding machines are provided with a follower device. An assumption is made relative to the invention that, as long as a person is stationed on such applicance, the machine is under control but when he leaves the platform there is no longer any applied control on the machine and it must be brought automatically to a stop.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide precautionary measures on a follower appliance of the above-noted type which will prevent accidental starting of the associated machine.

Another object is to eliminate the risk of running down misplaced objects left lying around and to eliminate the problem of colliding with operations engaged in inspection.

The above objects are accomplished, according to the invention, by equipping the follower carriage with switch-actuating safety units which prevent starting of the machine along with its follower device and/or deactivate the machine when the follower carriage encounters an obstacle.

Further details of the invention appear in the following specification of embodiments as illustrated in the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a fabric folding machine provided with a fabric follower appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a follower appliance provided with safety measures according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a component of the follower appliance and illustrates the mounting of a tracksupporting roller;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a follower appliance provided in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a follower appliance provided with an anti-collision safety precaution according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the side view of a semi-automatic fabric folding machine 1. The fixed part of this machine is a long layering table provided with a squeezer plate 2. On one of the long sides of the table beyond the table supports, a traveler beam 3 is fastened on which the folding machine is guided by tread rollers 4. On the opposite long side, the machine runs on track wheels engaging the extreme edge of squeezer plate 2 and is able to move between terminal positions at the right and left.

The folding machine is driven by a direct-current motor 5. The fabric webs are drawn by a fabric-carrier roller 6 from a batch beam 7 and passed on to a cutting device 8, which separates the fabric in one and/or the other final position of the folding machine afierconclusion of a particular layering operation.

The service traveler 10, guided on the traveler beam 3 by means of two tread rollers 9, is loose-coupled to the folding machine by a coupling pin 11. A perpendicular bearer member 12 hangs from tread rollers 9 with a horizontal platform 13 being attached to its lower longitudinal edge as a station for an operator. The perpendicular position of the bearer 12 is secured by a backing roller 14 (shown in broken line) on its reverse side. This roller braces against a stationary portion or stay rail 15 mounted on the layering table.

As a first safety measure, the invention provides that the backing roller 14, which is described in fuller detail hereafter, actuates a switch (not shown) which causes a stopping of the machine when there is no load on platform 13. The same purpose is attained if the platform is wholly or partly swingable, and the swing is applied to actuating a switch. As a second safety measure against collision of the machine with miscellaneous objects or inspection personnel, the invention provides starter bumpers 17, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1, at the ends of platform 13. These operate a switch 27 which switches driving motor 5 out of action. The details of the said safety measures are described with the aid of FIGS. 2 to 5 below.

In correspondence with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows the folding machine 1, the layering table 2, traveler beam 3 and the friction rollers 4. The follower appliance 10 is loose-coupled with the folding machine by means of coupling pin 1 I.

The vertical bearer member 12 is fi'tted to rotate on a shaft 18, whose ends are each lodged in a transverse slot in a respective bearing element 20. The shaft can move restrictedly in the horizontal direction in these transverse slots. The bearings are recessed for receiving compression springs 19 which hold the shaft 18 spaced from bearer 12. The compression springs are adjusted to support the unladen service traveler, but compress with any heavier burden (i.e., an operator) and give the appliance a slight tilt (equivalent to the length of the transverse slots according to FIG. 3). This motion causes the driver rod of a switch 21 to move against the lower end of shaft 18, which switches on driving motor 5 (FIG. 1).

An apparatus for the same purpose is shown in FIG. 4, with the sole difference that a part 16 (see also FIG. 1) of platform 13 or the whole platform is tilted downward against spring tension so that a switch 22 is actuated and the driving motor is brought into action.

As the service traveler juts out beyond the lateral limits of the machine to a considerable extent, there is a risk of running into miscellaneous standing objects or into persons watching the operation of the machine. The safety device shown in FIG. 5 prevents this.

In FIG. 5, the service traveler bearer member is indicated at 12, its platform at 13 and the tread rollers on the traveler beam 3 at 9. A bumper 17 is fitted on one face (or on both faces) and connected with the platform by an extendible member 23 (i.e., lazy tongs or lattice extenders). A tension spring 24 provides for the bumpers being held away from the front of the platform. An actuating bar 25 is fitted on bumper 17 and kept in play within limits by means of appropriate guide-and-anchor units on the platform. A scarf 26 on its free end actuates a switch 27. The angular part 28 at this end operating in conjunction with a buffer or stop 29 limits the distance between the bumper 17 and the platform.

Spring 24 on the bumper lattice operates to maintain the extended condition of the bumper but, when contact with some object occurs, it functions as only a slight resistance to contraction of the extendible member 23. The gap between bumper and platform is such that the machine can be brought safely to a stop before the gap has been traversed. Anticollision devices other than the lattice extender can be used.

It should also be noted that, instead of a single backing roller 14, two backing rollers can be used.

What is claimed is:

1. Fabric folding apparatus comprising a support, a fabric folding machine, driving means for moving said machine back and forth along said support in a folding operation, a service traveler coupled to said machine for moving therewith and adapted to support an operator, means connecting the service traveler to said support to permit displacement of the traveler with respect to the support when the operator is on the traveler, and safety means located on the same lateral side of the support as the service traveler and coupled to said driving means to deactivate the same when the operator is absent from the service traveler or when the service traveler encounters an object or person in its path of travel, said safety means including a roller bearing laterally against said support, a shaft supporting the roller, bearing means supporting the shaft on the service traveler and permitting movement of the shaft with respect thereto, spring means yieldably urging the shaft to a position of rest in the bearing means, and switch means actuated by the shaft when the latter is displaced, by a load on said service traveler, against the opposition of the spring means for actuating said driving means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the service traveler extends below and laterally of the folding machine.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means is adjustable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support includes a stationary portion with respect to which the service traveler is tiltable, said safety means being located between said traveler and stationary portion to be actuated when an operator occupies the traveler.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the roller on said shaft rolls against said stationary portion and spaces the traveler from the stationary portion.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety means includes a bumper, an extendible means mounting the bumper on the service traveler, spring means yieldably holding the extendible means in extended condition for compression upon encountering an object or person, and switch means actuated upon compression of said extendible means for deactivating said drive means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the extendible means is a lazy tong arrangement.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the safety means includes an operating bar on the bumper and including a scarf located to engage said switch means, and means to limit the extending of said extendible means. 

1. Fabric folding apparatus comprising a support, a fabric folding machine, driving means for moving said machine back and forth along said support in a folding operation, a service traveler coupled to said machine for moving therewith and adapted to support an operator, means connecting the service traveler to said support to permit displacement of the traveler with respect to the support when the operator is on the traveler, and safety means located on the same lateral side of the support as the service traveler and coupled to said driving means to deactivate the same when the operator is absent from the service traveler or when the service traveler encounters an object or person in its path of travel, said safety means including a roller bearing laterally against said support, a shaft supporting the roller, bearing means supporting the shaft on the service traveler and permitting movement of the shaft with respect thereto, spring means yieldably urging the shaft to a position of rest in the bearing means, and switch means actuated by the shaft when the latter is displaced, by a load on said service traveler, against the opposition of the spring means for actuating said driving means.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the service traveler extends below and laterally of the folding machine.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means is adjustable.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support includes a stationary portion with respect to which the service traveler is tiltable, said safety means being located between said traveler and stationary portion to be actuated when an operator occupies the traveler.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the roller on said shaft rolls against said stationary portion and spaces the traveler from the stationary portion.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said safety means includes a bumper, an extendible means mounting the bumper on the service traveler, spring means yieldably holding the extendible means in extended condition for compression upon encountering an object or person, and switch means actuated upon compression of said extendible means for deactivating said drive means.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the extendible means is a lazy tong arrangement.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the safety means includes an operating bar on the bumper and including a scarf located to engage said switch means, and means to limit the extending of said extendible means. 